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Arizona indicts 2 Indian nationals in elder scam
Ahmed Maqbul Syed and Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi allegedly tricked victims into withdrawing money, buying gold, and gift cards through fake tech support scams.
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Person using laptop / Pexels
Ahmed Maqbul Syed (57) and Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi (27), two Indian nationals, have been charged in Arizona for their role in a nationwide scam that targeted elderly Americans.
In a statement issued on Dec. 30, 2024, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced, “Participants in ‘Tech Support’ Scheme Charged with Conspiracy to Launder Fraudulent Proceeds.”
The charges mentioned on the issue, brought by a federal grand jury in Tucson on Dec. 11, 2024, allege that Syed and Chintakindi conspired to commit money laundering. Additionally, Syed faces a separate charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The indictment claims that Syed, Chintakindi, and others worked together to trick elderly victims across the U.S., including in Arizona, into withdrawing large amounts of money, buying gold, and purchasing gift cards. The scam started with a pop-up on victims’ computers, falsely claiming their systems had been hacked. Victims were then directed to fake “tech support” or “government representatives” who convinced them their accounts were compromised.
The scammers told victims to protect their money by withdrawing cash, buying gold, and even using Bitcoin ATMs. They were also instructed to buy gift cards and send the card numbers to the fraudsters. This scheme left many victims financially ruined.
Syed has been arrested and is being held in custody until his trial. If convicted, both charges could result in up to 20 years in prison and a US$250,000 fine. The FBI and local law enforcement from several states, including Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, and Indiana, worked on the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is handling the case.
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